Digital camera

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD [Detailed description of the invention]

【0001】

[Technical field to which the invention belongs]

The present invention relates to a digital camera, and more particularly to a digital camera capable of encrypting captured image data.

【0002】

[Conventional technology]

Recently, in digital cameras, a technique for encrypting and storing image data has been proposed in order to ensure the identity and confidentiality of captured image data. On the aspect of guaranteeing the sameness, it is difficult to distinguish between the original image data and the processed image data because the image data taken by the digital camera and recorded in the memory is easy to edit and process. There is a background. Further, on the aspect of confidentiality assurance, there is a background that the image data recorded in the memory may not be seen by others.

【0003】

For example, in the field survey data collection system described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-256067, the position data is determined by a GPS device at the position where the survey target is to be measured, and the survey target is videotaped by a video camera to obtain an analog image. Still image data is generated by the digital conversion circuit, the composite signal is determined from the investigated time data, position data, and still image data, the magnetic orientation data in the shooting direction is determined by the magnetic needle meter, and the composite signal, magnetic orientation data, etc. There is disclosed a technique of storing observation data in a storage medium, transmitting the observation data to a wireless public telephone line by a portable telephone, and disclosing the observation data by a computer installed in a remote place. That is, such a field survey data collection system uses image data taken by a video camera as survey data as evidence. The image data in this case is required to be the same.

【0004】

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

However, in the conventional digital camera, an effective method for ensuring the identity and confidentiality of the captured image data has not been proposed, and the security of the image data is insufficient.

【0005】

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a digital camera with improved security of captured image data.

【0006】

[Means for solving problems]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the digital camera according to claim 1 uses an imaging means for capturing a subject image and converting it into image data, a data communication means for data communication with the outside, and the data communication means. An encryption means for encrypting the image data to generate encrypted image data based on the encryption key received from the outside, a first storage means for storing the encrypted image data, and a first storage means for storing the encryption key. It is equipped with two storage means.

【0007】

Further, the digital camera according to claim 2 is unique to its own unit via an imaging means that captures a subject image and converts it into image data, a data communication means for data communication with an external device, and the data communication means. Data communication control means that transmits information to the external device and receives an encryption key sent from the external device in response to the information, and based on the encryption key, the image data is encrypted to generate encrypted image data. It includes an encryption means, a first storage means for storing the encrypted image data, and a second storage means for storing the encryption key.

【0008】

The digital camera according to claim 3 is the digital camera according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the encryption key has an expiration date.

【0009】

Further, the digital camera according to claim 4 is the digital camera according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the received encryption key is changed and stored in the second storage means.

【0010】

Further, the digital camera according to claim 5 is the digital camera according to claim 1 or 2, further provided with a cryptographic code creating means for creating a cryptographic code based on the image data.

【0011】

The digital camera according to claim 6 is the digital camera according to claim 2, wherein the data control means receives an encryption key from the external device at predetermined time intervals via the data communication means. The encryption means encrypts image data based on an encryption key received at predetermined time intervals to generate encrypted image data.

【0012】

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

【0013】

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a digital camera. In the figure, 100 indicates a digital camera. As shown in the figure, the digital camera 100 includes a system control unit 101 that controls the entire digital camera, an image pickup unit 102 that captures a subject and converts it into image data, and image data output from the image pickup unit 102. On the other hand, the image processing unit 103 that performs image processing and the like, the recording medium 104 that stores the image data and the like, the communication interface 105, the internal storage device 106, and the image data processed by the image processing unit 103 to the LCD 108. It includes a display device 107 for display control, an LCD 108 for displaying images and the like, and an operation unit 109 for a user to give an operation instruction to a digital camera.

【0014】

As described above, the system control unit 101 is for controlling the entire digital camera, and the CPU that controls the entire digital camera according to the program stored in the ROM and the program for operating the CPU. It is equipped with a ROM that stores the data, a RAM that is used as a work area for the CPU, and a timer for measuring the time.

【0015】

As described above, the image pickup unit 102 is for capturing an image of a subject and outputting image data, and is an optical system such as a lens for forming a subject image and a lens drive motor for driving the lens. Parts, CCD that converts the imaged subject image into an electric signal (analog image data), CCD drive circuit for driving the CCD, analog image data output from the CCD is a digital signal (digital image data) It is equipped with an A / D converter that converts to.

【0016】

The image processing unit 103 performs various image processing on the image data obtained by the image pickup unit 102, controls the CCD drive timing and the lens drive motor of the image pickup unit 102 to perform focusing, exposure adjustment, and the like. It is equipped with an image processing controller, a memory, and the like provided for performing image data encryption processing based on an encryption key and for performing image data compression / decompression.

【0017】

The display device 107 performs signal processing for displaying the image data processed by the image processing unit 103 on the LCD 108, and also generates various graphic images for the user interface and displays them on the LCD 108. is there. The LCD 108 is for displaying an image and displaying a graphic for a user interface.

【0018】

The recording medium 104 is composed of, for example, a flash memory, and is configured to be detachable from the digital camera 100, and is capable of recording compressed image data and various information related to the image. The operation unit 109 is for the user to give an operation instruction to the digital camera, and includes a release key for instructing shooting, a mode setting key for setting the mode of the digital camera, and the like. As will be described later, the mode setting keys are an encryption mode for encrypting image data, an encryption code creation mode for creating an encryption code based on image data, an encryption key change mode for changing the encryption key, and an expiration date for the encryption key. It is used to set ON / OFF of the expiration date mode for setting and the encryption key update mode for receiving and updating the encryption key at predetermined time intervals. The communication interface 105 includes a communication controller and the like for performing data communication with the outside via a communication device such as a mobile phone 200.

【0019】

Further, in the figure, reference numeral 200 denotes a mobile phone connected to the communication interface 105 of the digital camera for data communication with the outside. Reference numeral 300 denotes a wired telephone connected to the communication interface 105 of the digital camera for data communication with the outside. 400 indicates a telephone network. 401 indicates a host computer connected to the telephone network 400.

【0020】

In addition, 500 indicates the Internet connected to the telephone network 400. 501 indicates a personal computer connected to the Internet 500. The digital camera 100 communicates data with a device connected to the telephone network 300 (for example, the host computer 401) or the device connected to the Internet 500 (for example, the host computer 501) via the mobile phone 200 or the wired telephone 300. It is possible.

【0021】

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the host computer 401 of FIG. In FIG. 2, the host computer 401 includes an input unit 411 for inputting a character string, a data communication unit 412 for performing data communication, a display unit 413, a CPU 414 that controls the entire device of the host computer 401, and a CPU 414. It is composed of a recording medium 415 that stores various control programs that operate the system, a recording medium drive device 416 for reading / writing data on the recording medium 415, and a RAM 417 that is used as a work area for the CPU 414. There is.

【0022】

The input unit 411 includes a keyboard or the like provided with a cursor key, a number input key, various function keys, and the like, and outputs a press signal of the key pressed by the keyboard to the CPU 414. The data communication unit 412 is connected to the telephone communication network 400 and performs data communication with the digital camera 100, the host computer 501, and the like via the telephone communication network 400. The display unit 413 is composed of a CRT, an LCD, or the like, and displays according to the display data input from the CPU 414.

【0023】

The CPU 414 is a control unit that manages the control of the entire device of the host computer 401 according to various control programs stored in the recording medium 415. The CPU 414 is connected to an input unit 411, a data communication unit 412, a display unit 413, a recording medium drive device 416, and a RAM 417. Data communication, control program reading, data read / write, data / command input, etc. To control. Further, the CPU 414 creates an encryption key based on the unique information of the digital camera 100 input from the digital camera 100 via the data communication unit 401, and transfers the created encryption key to the digital camera 100 via the data communication unit 401. Send out.

【0024】

The recording medium 415 stores various control programs for operating the CPU 414, parameters used for the processing, and the like. As the recording medium 415, for example, a hard disk, a floppy disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, or the like can be used.

【0025】

Next, the encryption process of the digital camera 100 having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the encryption process of the digital camera.

【0026】

As the image data encryption method, for example, the DES (Data Encryption Standard) method, which is a common key encryption method, can be used. In the DES method, the sentence (plaintext) before encryption is divided into blocks for each 64-bit, and encryption and decryption are performed for each block. The key (encryption key) is 56 bits, but 8 bits of parity is added to make it 64 bits. Data obtained by encrypting plaintext using a key is also 64-bit. The DES method has two processes, key generation and cryptographic processing. In cryptographic processing, a transliteration method that rearranges the bit order of the input pattern and a transliteration method that converts the relationship between the input pattern and the output pattern according to a table. There is a method of encrypting plaintext data using.

【0027】

In FIG. 3, first, in the digital camera 100, when the release key of the operation unit 109 is pressed (step S100), the image pickup unit 102 captures a predetermined image under the control of the image processing unit 103, and the image processing unit 103. The image processing unit 103 performs image processing / compression processing, and the system control unit 101 stores the compressed image data in the recording medium 104 (steps S101 and S102).

【0028】

Then, the system control unit 101 determines whether or not the encryption mode is set (step S103), and if the encryption mode is not set, ends the process, while the encryption mode is set. To step S104.

【0029】

In step S104, the system control unit 101 determines whether or not the encryption code creation mode is set, and if the encryption code creation mode is not set, the system proceeds to step S105, while the encryption code creation mode is set. If so, the process proceeds to step S117.

【0030】

In step S117, the system control unit 101 causes the image processing unit 103 to image and create an encryption code based on the image data stored in the recording medium 104 (step S117), and stores the encryption code in the internal storage device 106 (step S117). Step S118).

【0031】

In step S105, the system control unit 101 connects (establishes a protocol) to the host computer 401 (establishes a protocol) via the mobile phone 200 or the wired telephone 300 using the communication interface 105 (steps S105 and S106).

【0032】

Then, the system control 101 performs data communication with the host computer 401 via the communication interface 105, first sends out the unique information of the own machine to the host computer 401 (step S107), and accordingly, from the host computer 401. Obtain the encryption key (encryption key) to be sent (S108). When the system control unit 101 acquires the encryption key, the system control unit 101 disconnects from the host computer 401 (step S109). Then, the system control unit 101 reads the image data stored in the storage medium 104, and causes the image processing unit 103 to perform encryption processing on the read image data based on the acquired encryption key (step S110).

【0033】

Then, the system control unit 101 determines whether or not the encryption key change mode is set (step S111), and if the encryption key change mode is not set, the system proceeds to step S112 while the encryption key change mode is set. If is set, the process proceeds to step S119, the encryption key stored in the internal storage device 106 is changed, and the process proceeds to step S112.

【0034】

In step S112, the system control unit 101 determines whether or not the encryption key expiration mode is set, and if the encryption key expiration mode is not set, the system proceeds to step S113, while the encryption key expiration date is set. If the mode is set, the process proceeds to step S115, the expiration date is added to the encryption key, and the process proceeds to step S113.

【0035】

In step S113, the system control unit 101 stores the encrypted encrypted image data in the recording medium 104 (step S113), and stores the encryption key in the internal storage device 106 (step S114). The encrypted image data and the encryption key are stored in association with each other. Then, the system control unit 101 determines whether or not the encryption key update mode is set (step S116), and ends the process if the encryption key update mode is not set, while the encryption key update mode. If is set, after a lapse of a predetermined time, the process proceeds to step S105, data communication is performed with the host computer 401, a new encryption key is acquired, and image data is encrypted using the new encryption key. (Step S105 to Step S110). In this way, when the encryption key update mode is set, the encryption key is acquired from the host computer 401 at predetermined time intervals, and the image data is encrypted based on the acquired encryption key.

【0036】

When decrypting the encrypted image data encrypted as described above, the encryption is performed using the corresponding encryption key.

【0037】

As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, the digital camera 100 sends out the unique information of its own machine to the host computer 400, and images are taken based on the encryption key sent from the host computer 401 accordingly. Since the image data is encrypted, it is possible to improve the security of the image data. In addition, if you want to view the image data stored in the recording medium 104 on a device other than your own device (digital camera 100), you cannot view it without the encryption key.

【0038】

Further, according to the above-described embodiment, since the encryption key is given an expiration date, the image data cannot be decrypted after the expiration date, and the security of the image data is further improved. It becomes possible.

【0039】

Further, according to the above-described embodiment, since the image data is encrypted using the received encryption key and then the encryption key is changed, the image data cannot be deciphered even by a digital camera. This makes it possible to further improve the security of image data.

【0040】

Further, according to the above-described embodiment, since the encryption code is created based on the image data, it is possible to determine the identity of the image data, and it is possible to further improve the security of the image data. In addition, for example, the identity of the image data can be determined by comparing the encryption code of the original image data with the encryption code of the processed image data.

【0041】

Further, according to the above-described embodiment, since the encryption key is received at predetermined time intervals and the image data is encrypted based on the received encryption key, the security of the image data can be further improved. It will be possible.

【0042】

Further, according to the above-described embodiment, the operator can set whether or not to use the encryption mode, the encryption code creation mode, the encryption key change mode, the expiration date mode, and the encryption key update mode. It is possible to perform encryption processing according to the level of security.

【0043】

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately modified and implemented without changing the gist of the invention.

【0044】

[Effect of the invention]

As described above, according to the digital camera according to claim 1, the imaging means captures the subject image and converts it into image data, and the encryption means is based on an encryption key received from the outside via the data communication means. Since the image data is encrypted to generate encrypted image data, the encrypted image data is stored in the first storage means, and the encryption key is stored in the second storage means, the security of the image data is improved. It becomes possible to make it.

【0045】

According to the digital camera according to claim 2, the imaging means captures the subject image and converts it into image data, and the data communication control means transmits the unique information of the own machine to the external device via the data communication means. , In response to this, the encryption key sent from the external device is received, the encryption means encrypts the image data based on the encryption key to generate the encrypted image data, and the encrypted image data is stored in the first storage. Since it is stored in the means and the encryption key is stored in the second storage means, it is possible to improve the security of the image data.

【0046】

According to the digital camera according to claim 3, in the digital camera according to claim 1 or 2, the encryption key is given an expiration date. Therefore, after the expiration date has passed, the image data is decrypted. It becomes impossible to convert the image data, and it becomes possible to further improve the security of the image data.

【0047】

According to the digital camera according to claim 4, in the digital camera according to claim 1 or 2, the received encryption key is changed and stored in the second storage means, so that the image data is digitally stored. It can be made undecipherable even with a camera, and the security of image data can be further improved.

【0048】

According to the digital camera according to claim 5, in the digital camera according to claim 1 or 2, the encryption code creating means further creates an encryption code based on the image data. It becomes possible to judge the identity, and it is possible to further improve the security of the image data.

【0049】

According to the digital camera according to claim 6, in the digital camera according to claim 2, the data control means receives an encryption key from an external device at predetermined time intervals via the data communication means, and the encryption means. Has decided to encrypt the image data based on the encryption key received at predetermined time intervals to generate the encrypted image data, so that the security of the image data can be further improved.

[Simple explanation of drawings]

[Figure 1]

It is a figure which shows the structure of a digital camera system.

[Figure 2]

It is a figure which shows the structure of the host computer of FIG.

[Fig. 3]

It is a flowchart for demonstrating the encryption process of a digital camera.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 digital camera 101 System control unit 102 Imaging unit 103 Image processing unit 104 Storage media 105 Communication interface 106 Internal storage 107 Recording media 108 LCD 109 Operation unit 200 mobile phones 300 Wired Phone 400 Telephone communication network 401 host computer 411 Input section 412 Data communication department 413 Display 414 CPU 415 Recording medium 416 Recording medium drive device 417 RAM 500 internet 501 host computer